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Cincinnati area Attorney Al Gerhardstein, the attorney who has been fighting the state’s ban on recognizing gay marriages performed in other states for purposes of death and birth certificates, says Federal Judge Tim Black is poised to rule a key part of Ohio’s law unconstitutional.

“What this means is Judge Black is saying that he will declare the marriage recognition ban in Ohio unconstitutional so that if you are in a same sex marriage from another state and you come to Ohio, Ohio will have to recognize your marriage. That has implications for death certificates, birth certificates, taxes, bequests, child custody privileges in court. There will be many, many ramifications from this ruling.”

A spokesman for Ohio’s Attorney General says he can’t comment on the ruling until it has been released. But Dan Tierney says even if the judge does what Gerhardstein says, it won’t make gay marriage legal in Ohio.

“The order would be limited to the recognition of marriages performed outside the state of Ohio according to other state’s law. It does not address the overall issue of the law as performed in the state of Ohio.”

Tierney says Ohio will fight the ruling when it comes down. Gerhardstein says in other cases where the states have challenged similar rulings, the federal edicts have ultimately prevailed.